Rosa hybrida shrub named &#39;AUSblanket&#39;

ABSTRACT

A variety of rose plant of the shrub class, named ‘AUSblanket’. The ‘AUSblanket’ rose is a plant having a strongly fragrant myrrh scent, buds that are round and rich butter yellow developing into a pale softer creamy color that maintains the rounded chalice shape of the early bud, and being a particularly healthy shrub with few thorns.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The current application claims priority to a European Community Plant Variety Application No. 2011/2133, filed Sep. 7, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

CLASSIFICATION

The present invention relates to a new Rosa hybrida shrub.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The new plant has the varietal denomination ‘AUSblanket’.

ORIGIN OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of shrub rose plant named ‘AUSblanket’, which was originated from the cross-pollination of the two ‘unnamed’ seedlings of Rosa hybrida.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of this breeding was to produce a variety of rose with an intense myrrh fragrance, and having round chalice shape blooms that are rich butter yellow in bud maturing to a pale soft creamy color.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the features which distinguish the new variety from others presently available and commercial rose cultivars known to the inventor is the following combination of characteristics: a strongly fragrant myrrh scent, buds that are round and rich butter yellow developing into a pale softer creamy color that maintains the rounded chalice shape of the early bud, and being a particularly healthy shrub with few thorns.

Asexual reproduction of the new variety by budding as performed outdoors at Bowling Green Lane in Albrighton, Britain shows that the foregoing and other distinguishing characteristics come true to form and are established and transmitted through succeeding asexual propagations. ‘AUSblanket’ may be asexually propagated by budding. The budding successfully occurred on the plant/rootstock Rosa cv. ‘Dr. Huey’ in the United States, and Rosa dumetorum cv. Laxa’ for the observed plants in the UK.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

The seed and pollen parents of ‘AUSblanket’ are two unnamed seedlings. The new rose may be distinguished from its seed parent, by the following combination of characteristics: the new variety is creamy white once fully opened while the parent is pink, and the new variety has a rounded chalice shape while the parent has a cupped bloom. The qualities of the pollen parent are unknown.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

The closest commercially available cultivars to the new variety are the ‘AUSjo’ and ‘AUStwist’ (unpatented varieties). The new rose may be distinguished from the ‘AUSjo’ variety by the following combination of characteristics: the ‘AUSblanket’ has a bloom with hints of yellow, whereas in ‘AUSjo’ has a bright yellow color and ‘AUStwist’ has a soft apricot color. ‘AUSblanket’ also has a strong myrrh fragrance compared with ‘AUSjo’, which has a fruity fragrance, and ‘AUStwist’ is fruity with hints of lemon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

The accompanying photograph illustrates the new variety and shows the flowering thereof from bud to full bloom depicted in color as nearly correct as it is possible to make in a color illustration of the character. Throughout this specification, color references and/or values are based upon the Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society (2001) except where common terms of color definition are employed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

Observations of budded ‘AUSblanket’ specimens were made at the nursery at David Austin Roses Limited in Albrighton, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. The following description is of 1 year-old rose plants of the new variety grown outdoors in Albrighton, Britain in the month of June. Phenotypic expression may vary with environmental, cultural and climatic conditions, as well as differences in conditions of light and soil.

-   Flower characteristic:     -   -   Blooming habit.—Recurrent. The number of blooms per plant             during the growing season is profuse, but there are too many             to count.         -   Bud.—Size: About 2 cm long and 1.8 cm in diameter when the             petals start to unfurl. Form: The bud form is pointed short             and globular. Color: When sepals first divide, the bud color             is yellow-orange RHS 20B. When half blown, the upper sides             of the petals are white RHS 18A and the lower sides of the             petals are white RHS 18A. Calyx: Shape: star-shaped when             fully opened with the sepals folding back. Length: 4.4 cm.             Diameter: 5 cm. Sepals: Arrangement: Regular. Color: Upper             Surface: green RHS 143D. Lower Surface: green RHS 143C with             some red-purple RHS 64B. Length: 32 mm. Width: 13 mm. Shape:             Deltoid with extensions. Surface texture: Upper Surface:             Downy. Lower Surface: Smooth. Number: There are 3 normally             appendaged sepals, and 2 unappendaged sepals with hairy             edges. Receptacles: Color: green RHS 143C. Shape: pitcher.             Size: medium, about 1.3 cm×1 cm. Surface: Smooth. Peduncle:             Length: short, averaging about 5 cm. Surface: Glandular.             Color: light green RHS 143C. Strength: Normal.         -   Blooms.—Size: Medium, average open diameter is about 9.5 cm.             Borne: Mostly singly in clusters of 1-4 blooms having flat             shape. Stems: Strength: Normal, average length is about             5 cm. Diameter: 1.5 mm. Form: When first open, bloom is             cupped. Permanence of bloom: retains its form to the end.         -   Petalage.—Number of petals under normal conditions: 43.             Color: The upper sides of the petals are white RHS 27C. The             reverse sides of the petals are white RHS 11C, and the based             of the petals has white RHS 11B. Variegations: Shading at             the tip of the petals. Discoloration: The general tonality             at the end of the first day is white RHS 27C, and at the end             of the third day is white 27C. Fragrance: Strong. Character             of fragrance: myrrh.         -   Petals.—Texture: Smooth. Size: Width: 5.5 cm. Length: 6 cm.             Surface: Smooth. Shape: Notched and obovate. Margin:             Notched. Apex Shape: Notched. Base Shape: Obtuse. Form:             Incurved. Arrangement: Imbricated. Petaloids: Number: 8.             Color: Anther: RHS 13A, Filament: RHS 17A, Petal: RHS             11C+RHS27C.white RHS 155C. Length: Anther: 1.5 mm, Filament:             8-10 mm, Petal: 10-50 mm. Width: Anther: 1 mm, Filament: 0.2             mm, Petal: 4 mm. Shape: Obovate. Margin: Irregular.             Persistence: Petals hang on and dry. Lastingness: On the             plant: About 7 days. As a cut flower: Not tested.         -   Reproductive parts.—Stamens: Number: 100. Length: 10 mm.             Anthers: Length: 2 mm. Color: yellow-orange RHS 22A.             Arrangement: regular around styles mostly, but a few are             tucked in the calyx. Filaments: Color: orange RHS 22A.             Length: 8 mm. Pollen: Color: gold yellow RHS 22A. Pistils:             Number: 30. Length: 3.5 mm. Styles: Color: yellow with some             pink (RHS 22B & RHS 47C). Length: 3 mm. Stigmas: Color:             yellow RHS 22B. Length: 0.5 mm. Hips: None Observed. -   Plant characteristics:     -   -   Plant form.—Shrub.         -   Plant growth.—Vigorous, upright and branching.         -   Age to maturity.—Two years.         -   Mature Plant.—Height: 150 cm. Width: 100 cm.         -   Rootstock.—Rosa cv. ‘Dr. Huey’ in the United States, Rosa             dumetorum cv. ‘Laxa’ for the observed plants in the UK.         -   Foliage.—Number: Leaflets on normal mid-stem leaves is: 15.             Size: Medium, about 14 cm long×10.5 cm wide. Quantity:             Normal. Number of leaves per flowering stem is: 14. Color:             New foliage: Upper side: yellow/green RHS 146B. Lower side:             yellow/green RHS 146C. Old foliage: Upper side: yellow/green             RHS 147A. Lower side: yellow/green RHS 146B.         -   Leaflets.—Size: About 14 cm long×10.5 cm wide. Shape:             Broadly oval. Base Shape: Rounded. Apex Shape: Acuminate.             Texture: Leathery. Edge: Serrated. Serrations: Single and             large. Petiole: Color: yellow-green RHS 146B. Length: 6 cm.             Width: 2 mm. Surface Texture: Rough. Petiole Rachis: Color:             green RHS 146B. Underside: with prickles. Stipules: Length:             2.5 cm, glandular. Color: 146C. Auricle: Shape: Lanceolate.             Length: 0.5 cm. Width: 2 mm. Color: RHS 146B. Vein Color:             RHS 146B & RHS 179A. Venation Pattern: Reticulate             (net-veined).         -   Wood.—New Wood: Color: violet-red RHS 179A. Bark: Smooth.             Old Wood: Color: dark-green RHS 146B. Bark: Smooth.         -   Branching Habit.—Number: 10. Lateral Branch Dimensions:             Length: 60 cm Diameter: 7 mm         -   Stems.—Mature Stem: Length: 80 cm. Diameter: 9 mm. Internode             Distance: 7 cm. The above measurements are all variable,             depending on growing conditions in a season. Stem Pubescence             Present:No.         -   Prickles.—Quantity: On main canes from base: Few. Number per             stem length: 6 per 30 cm. On laterals from main canes: Few.             Number per stem length: 6 per 30 cm. Form: Deep concave.             Length: 7 mm. Color when young: Red RHS 179A. Color when             mature: Brown RHS 177C.         -   Small prickles.—Quantity: Main stalk: None Number per stem             length: N/A. Laterals: Few Number per stem length: N/A.             Color: When young: red RHS 179A.

When mature: Brown RHS 177C.

-   -   -   Disease resistance.—Mildew: Resistant. Blackspot: Resistant.             Rust: Resistant.         -   Pest resistance.—Not tested.         -   Winter hardiness.—Not tested.         -   Growing conditions.—Normal. 

1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant of the shrub class suitable for repeat flower production, substantially as herein shown and described. 